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Predators & Reapers
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs)
also known as Drones

UPCOMING Peace Actions:
Sacred Peace Walk (Spring 2015)
Justice For Our Desert (Autumn 2015)


RECENT Peace Actions:
Shut Down Creech--A Convergence of Many Groups For Peace
Report Back From Shut Down Creecch
Report Back from Faith-Based Response to Drones Conference

Code Pink Autumn 2014
Justice For Our Desert Autumn 2014
Sacred Peace Walk and Code Pink Demonstrations Spring 2014


COALITIONS:
United Against Drones
Know Drones


Predators and Reapers are remotely controlled, hunter-killer, remotely piloted aircraft currently operated out of several bases in the USA (including Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada). The United States Air Force flies these for both military and and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) purposes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries for surveillance, targeting, bombing, and assassination purposes.

The idea that technology can provide a cleaner and safer battlefield is seductive but has been proven a lie. From the catapult and crossbow, through the use of poison gas and airplanes in World War I, the atom bomb, helicopters and napalm in Vietnam to the "smart bombs" of the Gulf War, war has only grown deadlier. Technological advances may reduce the danger of casualties among the military personnel in the short run, but with each advance the number of civilian deaths multiplies and every war of the past century has numbered more children than soldiers among its victims.

Proponents of the use of UASs insist that there is a great advantage to fighting wars in "real-time" (with a 2-second satellite delay from Nevada to the Middle-East) by pilots sitting at consoles in offices on air bases far from the dangerous front line of military activity. With less risk to the lives of our soldiers and hence to the popularity and careers of politicians, the deaths of “enemy” noncombatants by the thousands are counted acceptable. The illusion that war can be waged with no domestic cost dehumanizes both us and our enemies. It fosters a callous disregard for human life that can lead to even more recklessness on the part of politicians.

With audacity that would confound Orwell, the Pentagon touts the “true hunter-killer role” of these robot “drones.” Armed with Hellfire; missiles and other weaponry, they have names that suit their lethal uses: the MQ-9 Reaper and the MQ-1 Predator. Such tools can kill but not pacify. By killing civilians, UAS drones do not prevent or eliminate terrorism, but instead incite more violence and retaliation.


This webpage has educational and opinion links regarding this expanding field of warfare. They are organized along the lines of presentations about the issue and NDE's work for peace in opposition to these new killing machines.

See the interactive video of drone warmaking.


I. Overview: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAV) and the Predator Series Drones

  1. Drone force expands to 38 machines constantly in the air
  2. MQ-9 Reaper  MQ-1 Predator  List of UAVs | Wikipedia
  3. Predator Strike Videos | U.S. Air Forces Central
  4. Drone Wars: The race is on to build the next combat unmanned aerial vehicle. Brian Wingfield, Forbes, June 1, 2009
  5. Point. Click. Kill: Inside The Air Force's Frantic Unmanned Reinvention | Popular Science, August 18, 2009
  6. Drone Update | NY Times December 2009

II. UAVs, Robots, Legal and Ethical Implications

  1. Flying Blind: U.S. combat drones operate outside international law. | Mary Ellen O'Connell 3/15/2010
  2. 'Wired For War' Explores Robots On The Battlefield | NPR
  3. P.W. Singer interview with Amy Goodman | Democracy Now
  4. P.W. Singer | The Daily Show | Comedy Central
  5. US Raising Status of Drone Pilots | Chicago Tribune, June 10, 2009
  6. State of Nevada - Robots on the Battlefield | mp3: Download
    P.W. Singer, author and Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative, Brookings Institute ... on whether nations could be more likely to go to war if robots continue to replace humans on and above the battlefield.
  7. Weapons get smaller, deadlier at China Lake, by Peter Pae, L.A. Times, April 20, 2009

III. U.S. Strikes Trade Long-Term Potential for Peace for Short-Term Safety of Troops

  1. UAV "pilots" and Sensor operators can still develop PTSD and other problems despite remote location far from battlefield
    1. Former Drone Pilot Talks Candidly About Attacks | By Alexander Reed Kelly 5/11/2013
    2. A Troubling Disconnection | America Magazine By Maryann Cusimano Love 3/15/2010
    3. Daily transition between battle, home takes a toll on drone operators By Megan McCloskey, Stars and Stripes Mideast edition, Tuesday, October 27, 2009
      KNPR State of Nevada interview with Megan McCloskey about this (and the following) article,
      Nov. 5, 2009
    4. Charting a new Course: Air Force sees culture shift as drone mission gains momentum By Megan McCloskey, Stars and Stripes Mideast edition, Tuesday, October 27, 2009
    5. Predator pilots' stress far from remote By Scott Lindlaw, Aug. 08, 2008 Las Vegas Review-Journal
  2. Loss of honor in eyes of Pashtun and other people of the region induces counter-attacks for the long run
    1. TTP Leader: Lahore Was Retaliation for Drone Strikes, Eyes US Targets | Anti-War.News, March 31, 2009
    2. Rival Taliban Leaders Unite as US widens Pakistan Attacks | Thaindian News, February 22, 2009
    3. The Downside of Letting Robots Do the Bombing | The New York Times, March 21, 2009
  3. Psychological effects on communities of being surveiled (or as in a "panopticon," of knowing one might be watched.
    1. Filling the Skies with Assasins | TomDispatch.com
    2. UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Philip Alston: Record AfPak Drone Attacks Under Obama May Violate International Law Democracy Now! interview by Amy Goodman, Oct. 28, 2009
    3. Jane Mayer: The Risks Of A Remote-Controlled War
      NPR's Fresh Air interview by Terry Gross, Oct. 21, 2009
      The Jane Mayer New Yorker Article's Abstract that was the occasion for the interview

IV. Evidently, Drones are NOT Significantly Better than Carpet-Bombing at Avoiding Civilian Casualties

  1. Creech Pilots Mistakenly Kill Afghan Civilians | AP, 29 May 2010
  2. The Drone Dillemma | Newsweek Dec. 2009
  3. Interactive Map: Airstrikes in Pakistan on the Rise | Center for American Progress
  4. 60 drone hits kill 14 al-Qaeda men, 687 civilians | VotersForPeace, April 10, 2009
  5. Threats, Options, and Risks in Pakistan | By Colin Cookman | Center for American Progress, March 5, 2009
  6. Bill Moyers Journal | Pierre Sprey and Marilyn Young | PBS, January 30, 2009
  7. Assessing the Human Cost of Air Strikes in Iraq | Audio NPR- Fresh Air with Marc Garlasco, April 8, 2008

V. Contributing to the Destabilization of Pakistan

  1. CIA Drone Operators Oppose Strikes as Helping al Qaeda | InterPressService -June 8, 2010
  2. Pakistan dangerously close towards becoming fiefdom of Islamist warlords, terrorists | Thaindian News - April 17, 2009
  3. U.S. expands Pakistani drone-strike zone; 12 dead | Alamgir Bitani Reuters- April 1, 2009
  4. Petraeus: Military Reserves 'Right of Last Resort' for Threats Inside Pakistan | FoxNews.com- March 30, 2009
  5. CENTCOM Advisor gives Pakistan six months before it collapses - March 23, 2009
  6. Cost of air power in Pakistan | Reuters - 20 March 2009
  7. Qureshi says US drone strikes are causing alienation in Pakistan - March 14, 2009
  8. "US Missile Strike" Targets Village in Pakistan | Guardian UK, October 20, 2008
  9. Revenge of the Drones: An Analysis of Drone Strikes in Pakistan - October 19, 2009 [Note: See also the Center for American Progress's interactive map. The research methodology is very similar but points to more civilian casualties.]

VI. Taking Action

  1. NDE's Creech 18 webpage | October 2011 Actions
  2. NDE's Creech 14 resolution webpage | January 2011 Verdict
  3. John Dear's story on Creech 14 | CommonDreams.org Sept. 2010
  4. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | Las Vegas Sun Sept. 2010
  5. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | Las Vegas City Life BLOG Sept. 2010
  6. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | Public News Service Sept. 15, 2010
  7. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | All Voices Sept. 15, 2010
  8. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | Democracy Now Sept. 15, 2010
  9. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | OpEdNews Sept. 16, 2010
  10. Creech 14 Trial; Verdict Delayed | One India Sept. 17, 2010
  11. Kathy Kelly regarding trial; before trial | on Democracy Now Sept 13, 2010
  12. Fasting For Peace At Creech AFB | Pahrump's News on the Upcoming Fast
  13. NDE's letter to the 432nd Commander
  14. Syracuse's letter to the 432nd Commander
  15. Peter Ediger's report on the Nellis Air Show
  16. State of Nevada (KNPR)- Peace Walk | mp3: Download
    Fr. Louie Vitale, Kathy Kelly, & Jim Haber discuss NDE's Sacred Peace Walk and the Creech AFB and Nevada Test Site Vigil and Actions
  17. NDE's April actions according to Wired :
    Creech AFB clashes with NDE; this article has a a good amount of background on the issue, with good embedded links.
  18. Ground the Drones . . . Lest We Reap the Whirlwind | Vigil & Action April 1 - 13, 2009
  19. NDE Demonstration at Creech AFB | September 2008
  20. NDE Letter to the Editor | March 2009
  21. See Fr. Louie on Democracy Now!: Tuesday April 14th 2009


Other Articles & Media

America’s Undeclared War: Deadly Drone Attacks In Pakistan Reach Record High | Rick Rozoff 9/10
C.I.A. Steps Up Drone Attacks on Taliban in Pakistan | Mazzetti & Schmitt September 27, 2010
C.I.A. Said to Use Outsiders to Put Bombs on Drones | James Risen and Mark Mazzetti, NY Times, August 20, 2009
Greg Mortenson encircles Swat Province, US drones launched from Baluchistan | Not My Tribe
Google sleuths secret CIA drone flights from Baluchistan base | Jeremy Page, The Australian, February 20, 2009
Drones Are Weapons of Choice in Fighting Qaeda | Christopher Drew, The New York Times, March 16, 2009
UAVs protect U.S. troops in Iraq | United Press International, January 28, 2009
U.S. Officials: Al-Qaida Leadership Cadre 'Decimated' | NPR, February 3, 2009
Drone Attacks In Pakistan Under Review | NPR, February 2, 2009
Sharif asks Brown to make US shun its drone attack policy - Apr 28, 2009
Pakistan to US: Stop unilateral drone attacks - March 27, 2009
Zardari asks US to honour Pakistan's sovereignty - November 03, 2008
East Pakistan like situation in Swat: Imran - February 13, 2009
Pakistan's Islamic party condemns US plan to expand drone attacks - March 20, 2009
Suspected US airstrike in Pakistan kills three (Second Lead) - April 19, 2009

WAR DRONE KILLERS FLOWN IN NEW MEXICO:
This is a T.V. news report from New Mexico about the increasing use of bases there for UAV control and training. This report includes mention of new combat squadrons coming to Creech AFB in Nevada, necessitating the removal to other bases, including one near Alamogordo NM, of the training squadrons that have also been at Creech.

State of Nevada - Creech Airforce Base | mp3: Download
Colonel Christopher Chambliss, Commander of the 432rd Wing and 432rd Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB Wing of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) including the Predator and Reaper "drones" ... on the first air base dedicated to unmanned planes.

Las Vegas Review-Journal
Air Force: Bases inject $5 billion | 03/11/2009
Demand for Predator spy planes continues: Air Force officer predicts additional need for unmanned aircraft systems   Video | 03/06/2009 (NDE Editorial)
Drone Warriors: British, U.S. Reaper operators fly joint Afghanistan mission | 06/03/2008
Predator will still fly here: Creech base will see planes, though most redeployed | 03/26/2008
Predator focal point of military tug of war | 03/21/2008
Squadron activated at Creech: Focus will be to fix problems with unmanned fleet | 03/06/2008
Predator accidents blamed on crew error | 08/31/2008
Predator aircraft flies into history: Unmanned spy plane logs 400,000 hours of flight time  Video | 08/19/2008
Armed Predator spy plane crashes in Iraq | 12/18/2007
Pilotless aircraft's debut nearing: Reaper to be guided from Nellis to deploy in Iraq, Afghanistan | 07/17/2007
Predator reaches a milestone | 06/27/2007
Reactivation creates wing for remote controlled planes: Ceremony at Creech Air Force Base signals step in spy warfare | 05/02/2007

Las Vegas Sun
Pakistan: Al-Qaida, Taliban are not in Bluchistan | 03/18/2009
Bombs kill 15 in Pakistan; US drone reported down | 03/07/2009
US uses unmanned drones to hunt Somali pirates | 02/15/2009
Taking off at Creech, a better war plane | 08/29/2007
Commander named for Predator group | 07/12/2005
Indian Springs will host drone projects | 03/17/2005


 


Peter Ediger visits the Drones at an Air Show



EXCELLENT SLIDE SHOW about UAVs

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